Martin Compston has hit back over accusations that he was involved in singing “sectarian songs” at a Celtic fan convention in Las Vegas.
Footage has emerged online of the Line of Duty actor caught up on stage alongside ex-Celtic players Alan Thompson and Bobby Petta as “IRA” can be heard being chanted along to the tune of 1972 song Beautiful Sunday.
The actor, originally from Greenock, has now released a statement via his social media in which he vehemently denies singing any IRA lyrics to the tune, and said if fellow fans want to change lyrics then it’s “up to them”.
He wrote: “Not best pleased to wake up to a story eight hours ahead of me before I’ve had the right to reply.
“Let me be absolutely clear, I unequivocally did not sing ANY sectarian songs.
“I’ve worked in Belfast too long to see damage done to think this stuff is a laugh.
“If people want to change lyrics to a song that’s sung at Celtic Park, weddings, Still Game wherever that’s up to them I’m not the lyric police.
“If it was an IRA song and I was onstage bobbing along I would understand the story, but I’m pretty sure Daniel Boone had nothing more than Beautiful Sundays in mind when he wrote the song and that’s what I was singing.”
It comes after the actor turned out for the Soccer Aid World XI at Soccer Aid on Sunday to raise money for children’s charity Unicef, for whom he is an ambassador.
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